Two men were shot Friday evening at the Lehigh Valley Mall and at least one suspect is at large, according to Whitehall Township police.
The condition of the two victims is unknown, according to Chief Michael Marks at a press briefing Friday night. Both were taken to the hospital. Marks said the shooter is believed to be a male.
The shooting happened at around 7:10 p.m. Police taped off a portion of the parking lot near Macy’s, as well as an outside entrance where a glass door was shattered.
Whitehall police at the press briefing confirmed a fight did take place inside the Macy’sat the mall around the time of the shooting, but could not say if the two incidents were connected. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incidents or has video to call Whitehall police at 610-437-3042 .
PHOTO GALLERY: Scenes from the Lehigh Valley Mall where two people were shot on Friday evening, June 1, 2018.
One shopper at Macy’s said she saw the fight break out at a makeup counter and heard a woman screaming.
Another witness said she saw the fight and that it involved about 10 men. The witness said a woman was yelling “stop” at them. The witness also said she saw some items on a makeup counter get knocked down.
Police brought in lights in the parking lot as they continued to work at the scene through the night.
All other parking lots at the mall other than at Macy’s remained open.
Some shoppers with cars in the affected area weren’t able to get to their cars until around 10 p.m. A few people were calling for rides.
One shopper who did not want to be identified said: “Shootings are happening everywhere. You’re not safe bringing your family to the mall.”
Lehigh Valley Mall co-owner Simon Property Group spokesperson Megan Hakes issued a statement on the shooting late Friday night:
“Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our shoppers and employees. We are grateful for the swift response to this incident by our security team and the Whitehall Police Department. As this is a police matter, all further inquiries should be directed to the Whitehall Police Department.”
Raw video: The outside entrance to Macy’s at the Lehigh Valley Mall is taped off after two people were shot Friday evening, June 1, 2018.
Raw video: The outside entrance to Macy’s at the Lehigh Valley Mall is taped off after two people were shot Friday evening, June 1, 2018.
UPDATES:
10:25 p.m. Details from Whitehall police press briefing: Conditions of victims unknown; at least one suspect sought.
10:10 p.m. Updated with statement from Lehigh Valley Mall co-owner Simon Property Group.
10:05 p.m. Updated with another witness account of fight near makeup counter inside Macy’s.
10 p.m. Press briefing scheduled for 10:15 p.m.
9:00 p.m. Updated with details on other mall parking lots remaining open.
8:30 p.m. Updated with shoppers indicating police have said it will be until around midnight or 1 a.m. until they can pick up there cars from the taped off area of parking lot.
8:15 p.m.Whitehall Township police confirm the incident is not an active shooter situation, but that the suspect(s) are believed to have left the scene.
8 p.m. Updated with eyewitness reporting a fight at a Macy’s makeup counter prior to the shooting; unclear if the two incidents are related.
7:40 p.m. Updated with reports from the scene.
7:30 p.m. Updated after Whitehall Township police confirm two people were shot.
7:25 p.m. Initial story on reports of a shooting posted.
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(c)2018 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.)
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